President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last night that SA will go on a nationwide lockdown for 21 days with effect from midnight on Thursday 26 March.
“The nation-wide lockdown is necessary to fundamentally disrupt the chain of transmission across society,” said Ramaphosa in his national address concerning the further measures SA will take to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Individuals will be unable to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances, such as medical care purposes, to buy food and other supplies, or to collect a social grant, said Ramaphosa.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that the measures are implemented, Ramaphosa said.
At the time of publishing, it was not yet clear how this would be practically implemented on a town or city basis.
A public health management programme will also accompany the nation-wide lockdown “which will significantly increase screening, testing, contact tracing and medical management,” said Ramaphosa.
The announcement follows after the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in SA has increased six-fold in just eight days from 61 cases to 402 cases, of which 207 cases have been confirmed in Gauteng, as of 23 March.
Immediate and swift action is required to prevent a catastrophe of great proportions especially in our South African population, said Ramaphosa, where a large number of South Africans battle with a suppressed immunity because of HIV and TB, and high levels of poverty and malnutrition.
“Our fundamental task at this moment is to contain the spread of the disease. We must, therefore, do everything within our means to reduce the overall number of infections and to delay the spread of infection over a longer period,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa reassured the nation that the supply of goods will remain continuous during the lockdown and there is no need for panic-buying.
“I want to make it clear that we expect all South Africans to act in the interest of the South African nation and not their own selfish interests. I call on all of us, one and all, to play our part. To be courageous, to be patient, and above all, to show compassion,” he said.
President Ramaphosa called on all South Africans to once more:
- Wash hands frequently with hand sanitiser or soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow;
- Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
Read more on Covid-19 here.